Illuminated sign structure



Patented Feb. 6, 1951 ILLUMINATED SIGN STRUCTURE Lewis G. Lytton, St. Bernard, Ohio, assigner to f The Cincinnati Advertising Products Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application Jannary 23, 1947, Serial VN o. 723,821

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated sign structures.

An object of the invention is to provide a sign structure wherein the illuminating means is thoroughly protected against breakage, and against accumulations of dirt or other foreign substances which might adversely affect the brillianoy of the sign, the means employed for these purposes being highly durable and effective.

Another object is to provide an illuminated sign of the character referred to, wherein the lightemitting element is very prominently displayed where prominence is desired, while other portions thereof are effectively concealed, thereby to enhance the neatness and attractivness of the sign structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of illuminated sign structure which may be manufactured at a reasonable cost, free of rejects in the factory, without in any manner detracting from the pleasing appearance and the eiiectiveness of the sign structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated sign structure of the character stated, which will withstand a substantial amount of abuse in handling and under various circumstances of display, thereby avoiding the necessity for frequent 'servicing and repairs.

Another object is to provide an illuminated sign structure in which the light-emitting means is sealed in, thus achieving the various advantages above mentioned.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein, and illustrated upon the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an illuminated sign structure embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing a modication.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a second modification.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a third modicaton.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

As is Well known, illuminated-signs of the kind incorporating a gaseous discharge lighting tube have been very popular and have enjoyed generally a wide acceptance in the trade. Many signs of that character, however, are situated in surroundings highly unfavorable to proper maintenance of the effectiveness and brilliancy of the sign, due to the presence of dirt, grease, smoke and the like in the atmosphere surrounding the sign. When gaseous discharge lighting tubes accumulate dirt and other foreign substances which adversely aiect the brillancy of light emission, they may be restored to the original condition only by ineans of a cleaning process which is very tedious and time-consuming in character, and which subjects the discharge tube to liability of breakage since the tubes are more or less fragile. Accordingly, the present sign structure was devised for the purpose of facilitating and expediting reconditioning of the sign structure to the original brilliancy and effectiveness, without subjecting the vital parts to breakage or injury. In addition, the improved construction enhances the attractiveness and the advertising power of the display.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, the character l indicates a base panel of any desired contour, and which provides proper support for the other constituents of the sign structure. This base panel may be opaque or translucent, as desired. In one form of the invention, base panel l may be simply a sheet of composition board such as Masonite or similar sheet material formedto the desired shape. In another desirable form of the sign structure, panel l' may be a sheet of glass, plastic, or other translucent 01 transparent material, preferably of the kind which is unbreakable or at least highly resistant to fracture.

In that form of the invention illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the base panel may be drilled or otherwise furnished with apertures about the periphery thereof, for the reception of bolts or other fasteners indicated at 8. One or more of the fasteners, such as those indicated at 8B, may be utilized as anchors for suitable hangers 9 to be used in suspending the sign structure from an overhead support. The fasteners referred to serve also as the means of mounting upon the panel a cover I0, which cover affords a chamber including the forward face I2 of the base panel 7. Cover l0 preferably is fabricated of transparent plastic material preformed to pan shape, and having its dimensions corresponding substantially to the dimensions of the base panel. The pan-shaped cover includes a circumferential flange i4 which rests flatwise upon the margin of the base panel all around the latter, with a sealing contact which is assured by the multiplicity of fasteners 8. From the region of the flange the cover bulges outwardly to produce the pan shape as indicated upon Fig. l2, so that the 3 forward face I3 of the cover is spaced from the forward face I2 of the base panel to form the chamber heretofore mentioned. Face I3 may be substantially dat as shown upon the drawing, or if desired it may be convex in form. The cover should be of a material penetrable by light, at least in selected areas thereof. In the device as disclosedb-y Figs. l and 2, the area between the horizontal lines i'andi is transparent or clear, whereas the areas above line l5 and below line l5 may be translucent merely, these areas being either coated with a transparent paint, or etched or otherwise treated to diffuse light originating within the chamber l1. The clear portion I8v of the cover may extend throughout the length of the sign structure, as shown, or it may be restricted in area if desired.

' The character 9 indicates a section of gaseous discharge lighting tube properly formed to produce a display, such as the letters A D V, or if desired, some form of design. Ihe lighting tube is a well known light-emitting medium, and will usuallyv comprise luminous sections 2E! and opaquesections 2i properly arranged to produce a desired display of letters or designs. The gasecus discharge lighting tube customarily is formed from glass or glass-like substance, and within it is sealed an ionizable gas energized to emit various colorsof light by reason of an electric charge applied at electrodes located at oppositeends of thetube. One of the electrodes of tube i9 is shown atAZS, where electrical connection is made With an electrode 24 of a second tube t5; This second tube is a border tube adapted to concentrate light behind the translucent or colored sections 2S and 210i the cover element I0. For this purpose, the `border'tubev may be doubled upon itself at the location 2li- 28. The vertical section 29 thereof maygbe renderedopaque in a manner previously explained, to maintain a desired symmetry of the display. The ends 3Q and 3i of the light tubes may leave the chamber' through openings 32 formed in the base panel at the rear of the sign, and as is customary, will have electrical connection with a suitable source of electric power.

Tubes i9 and 25 may rest in a common plane, and any suitable means such as clips (not shown) may be employed to support them upon the base panel in substantial parallelism with the face of the panel.

inthe modification illustrated by Figs. 3 and`4, the base panel 3d is shown constructed of transparent plastic or other glass-like material which forms a-background for the advertising design or letters produced from the gaseous discharge lightingtube 35. The terminal ends il of the lighting tube extend through openings in the base panel at 35', and are intended for connectionto a suitable source of electric power. The cover 3? is substantially like thatY illustrated by Fig. 2, with the difference that its marginal edge or iiange need not be perforated to receive fasteners such as 8, since'in the modified form the cover'is held in place marginally of t -e base panelV by means of a-circumferential frame 38 having legs 3Q embracing the margins of the cover andthe base panel. Frame 35 may be constructed of a single length of U-shaped strip material, such as plastic, metaliorfthe-like, having its end porti-ons t5 audit -joined or clamped together in any suitable manner, as by means of a bolt 42. Tightening of the bolt holds the border frame rmly in place, and provides a convenient meansv for disassemblyl of the sign structure Whenever necessary.'A Initialiassembly, of course, likewise is ex- .pedited by the provision of a border frame as illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4.

While the border lighting tube has been omitted from the illustration of Figs. 3 and 4, it is to be understood that border lighting may be effected, if desired, as taught by the disclosure of Fig. 1. The cover 31 affords the desired protection for thelighting tubeas hereinbeiore mentioned, and facilitates cleaning andmaintenance of the sign structure to impart lasting brilliance and effectiveness as an advertising piece. The characters staand 44 indicate translucent areas of the cover, as distinguished from the intermediate transparent arearthrough which the advertising design or lettering is visible. All of these areas may extend the iulllength of the sign structure, or if desired, one or more of such areas may be more limited in extent. The vertically lined portions 45 of 'the gaseous discharge tube are rendered opaque in any well known manner, to preclude emissionzof light .at-those locations. The device of Figs. 3 and 4 may be suspended or otherwise placedinview, according to the Wishes of the user.

In the ymodification of Fig. 5, the base panel 49 supports the lighting tube 5B which furnishes the advertising design or lettering, and also the border tubeiindicated at 5i. The terminal ends 520i the; lighting tubes extend through the base panel as previously explained in connection with Figs. 2 and 4. In this instance, the cover 53 may be of preformed:transparent plastic or similar material, pressedfrom a sheet, to render it substantially pan-.like in character. The margins 54 of the coverV are adapted to rest flatwise against the margins of the base panel, and may beheld against the latter by means of bolts or other fasteners 55'; or by means of a' peripheral border strip as shovvnfin Fig. 4. A hanger for snspending the sign structure is indicatedv at 56.

In'the Fig. 5-form of sign structure, an effort is especially advanced to sharply and distinctively outline the circumferential border tube 5|, and this is accomplished by forming a reverse curve 5"in the material of the cover intermediate the marginal flange 54 and the major area of the coverface. By so curving the cover material,` a border channel 58 is provided, which is spaced from thefbase panel a distance approximating or slightly-exceeding the diameter of the circumferentia'llighting tube 5i. Thus, if the areas 59 and above and below the central transparent portion'iof the cover are coated or otherwise rendered translucent, rather than transparent; the border tube 5| will be sharply defined when the sign is lighted. It should be understood that thefborderchannel'S preferably is continuous marginally of the cover, and may easily be produced in the press as the cover is formed to the desiredipan shape. The lighting tube -indicated at 5D may be continuous with the border lighting; tube 5i, or'if desired, these tubes may be individually formed but energized from a common sourceofrelectric power. Base panel 49 maybe modied in various ways with respect to its characteristics of full or partial translucency or opacity, as suggested in the description of Figs. l to 4 inclusive. If the border tube 5I is to appear' continuous marginally of the sign when lighted, the end portions of the translucent area 6| may berendered light-diffusing in character, to co1- respond .with the areas 59 and E0 which are less transparent` than the intermediate area 5I.

Figs. 6-and 7 illustrate a dinerent form vof sign structure.; utilizing, basicallyl the same' elements` as constitute the structures previously described with the exception of the type of gaseous discharge lighting tube employed. Whereas in the structures previously described the lighting tubes were of the s`o-called neon tube type, those of Figs. 6 and 7 are iiuorescent tubes or lamps indicated by the characters 93 and 611'. These tubes have their opposite ends lodged in socket members 65 and 66, wherein are located the necessary clips or contacts which hold the tube ends in place while supplying electric current thereto. The socket members each comprise a base 6l' which is screwed or otherwise fastened to the base panel 38 as at 69, said socket members being arranged in pairs as indicated, to support their'l respective tubes in spaced parallelism horizontal-v ly upon the inner or forward face of the base panel. The necessary transformers or ballast elements for the tubes are repres-ented at l, the understanding being that such elements it may be located anywhere within or upon the sign structure, or remotely therefrom, as desired.

Base panel 63 may be pressed, cast or otherwise formed from metal, plastic, composition board material or the like, and will preferably be dished as illustrated upon Fig. with the marginal flange '5i thereof disposed in a plane. The cover 12 likewise is formed to dish shape, and has also a marginal planar flange "d3 corresponding and coinciding with flange ll, both flanges being continuous or peripheral. The cover is constructed of transparent plastic substance, preferably in one piece. By placing a suitable gasket 'lll of felt or like material between the flanges 'H and 13 and then clamping the anges together at various points on the periphery, an eiectively sealed chamber 15 is provided for enclosing the tubes and other alements of the sign structure to be protected from dirt and injury. rI'he clamping may be effected in any suitable manner, as by means of screws or other fasteners i6-Jil, or in accordance with Fig. 4. The characters 13 indicate hangers for the sign structure, which may be held in place by the screws 'l5- 716.

As indicated upon Fig. '7, the tubes 63 and 64 are advanced forwardly toward cover l2 and away from the base panel. The cover where overlying the tubes may be rendered partially or wholly opaque by coating or painting the areas El and S2, preferably inside the chamber, leaving transparent the intermediate area 83. This transparent area may extend substantially the full length of the cover, and will be limit-ed in width or vertical height to expose only the area of the base panel between tubes $3 and 613, without exposing the tubes. Directly behind the transparent area 33, the base panel may support any suitable form of advertising piece 8d to be illuminated by the tubes dii-6d and observed through the transparent area 83. This advertising piece is shown by way of example, as a block carrying suitable lettering 35 recessed therein or formed in relief thereon, as may be desired. The block preferably is made no wider than the height of the transparent area 33, and may b-e of any length within the limits of the sign structure. The translucent or opaque areas 81--82 may carry additional advertising matter, if desired,

and when the sign structure is illuminated by means of the lamps or tubes, a very pleasing and unusual effect is produced. The wires carrying electric current to the lamps or tubes may pass through the base panel of the sign structure at any convenient location.

The forms of the sign structure herein disclosed are to be considered typical or suggestive in character, and it will be at once evident that various modifications and changes in structural details may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminated sign comprising in combination a base plate having front and rear faces, display indicia attached to and extending across a portion of the front face of said plate, a gaseous discharge lighting tube having a luminous section adjacent to the front face of the plate, and an impervious protective cover overlying the forward face of the plate and the indicia the lighting tube in spaced relationship thereto, said cover being attached to the margins of the base plate, said cover having a single transparent panel disposed in front of said inldicia and translucent panels on opposite sides of said transparent panel, whereby the indicia z rind said central panel are visible by direct mation and the side panels are luminous.

2. An illuminated sign in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that the indicia is formed by the gaseous discharge tube and that the tube extends behind the translucent panels of the cover to illuminate the translucent panels of the cover.

3. An illuminated sign which comprises in combination a base plate having front and rear faces, an elongated gaseous discharge tube attached to said base plate and formed to present display indicia across a central portion of the front face of said base plate, elongated gaseous discharge tubes disposed on either side of said display indicia, and an impervious protective cover overlying the front face of the plate and the indicia and the lighting tubes in spaced relationship, said cover being substantially sealed to the margins of the base plate, said cover having a single transparent portiony opposite said indicia and translucent portions opposite said illuminated tubes, whereby the indicia behind said central panel are visible by direct illumination and the side panels are luminous.

IEWIS G. LYT'ION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,795,572 Norden Mar. l0, 1931 1,830,414 Wamser Nov. 3, 1 931 1,928,619 Cudney Oct. 3, 1933 1,951,502 Cadieux Mar. 20, 1934 2,027,187 Luna Jan. 7, 1936 2,152,653 Mansell Apr. 4, 1939 Y 

